Didcot and surrounding area infrastructure improvements

Reducing congestion and improving journey times, pedestrian and cycling connectivity and supporting new employment sites and housing.

About the improvements

The scheme includes four elements to support Didcot as a vibrant garden town. The elements include improvements to existing roads and the construction of new roads, new walking and cycle routes, and will help to facilitate new and enhanced bus services.

These elements will:

  • improve pedestrian and cycle connectivity for work and leisure trips with 19km of walking and cycling paths
  • provide more sustainable travel options in and around Didcot, including on public transport
  • reduce congestion and improve air quality in surrounding villages and parishes
  • enable more jobs in the local area in new and existing employment sites
  • support expected housing growth.in the local area

Compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) and side road orders (SROs)

The orders relating to Didcot and surrounding area infrastructure improvements are available to view.

Scheme benefits

Your questions answered

Frequently asked questions.

Take a look at a flyover of the scheme

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What is happening when?

Oxfordshire County Council submitted a planning application to the Local Planning Authority in November 2021.

Following a conjoined planning and Orders (compulsory purchase order, side roads order, and bridge scheme) Public Inquiry that took place between February and May 2024, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government granted planning approval for the scheme.

The decision on the statutory orders needed to secure all of the land for the scheme is awaited, but private negotiations with landowners continue to progress. 

Recordings of the sessions and core documents relating to the Inquiry can be found on the official Inquiry portal.

Construction is anticipated to start on site in early 2026 and last approximately two years. 

How it is being funded

The £332 million project is fully funded. Successful discussions with the government in 2022 and again in 2024, resulted in additional grants from Homes England. 

In February 2022, approval was also given to underwrite up to £30m from Oxfordshire County Council’s capital budget, while Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership contributed a £10m capital investment generated from Enterprise Zones’ business rates retention.

Contact us

If you have any queries please contact contact the delivery team.

Find out more about each element

  • Element 1: Widening of the A4130

    The creation of a dual carriageway east of Milton Interchange with 1.6km of high quality and segregated walking and cycling facilities, linking to the future development at Valley Park and Didcot Science Bridge. Learn more about widening the A4130.

  • Element 2: Didcot Science Bridge

    A new single-carriageway road bridge over the A4130, Great Western Main Line, and Milton Road, connecting to a new link road through the former Didcot A Power Station. The element connects with the Northern Perimeter north of Purchas Road roundabout. High-quality and segregated cycling and pedestrian facilities will be provided along the length of the scheme. Learn more about the Didcot Science Bridge.

     

  • Element 3: Didcot to Culham river crossing

    A new single carriageway link road between the A4130 at Didcot and the A415 at Culham, with high quality and segregated walking and cycling facilities. It will include a new bridge over the Appleford Railway sidings and a new bridge over the River Thames. Learn more about the Didcot to Culham river crossing.

  • Element 4: Clifton Hampden bypass

    A new single-carriageway link road between the A415 at Culham and the B4015 to the north of Clifton Hampden, with shared-use walking and cycling facilities. Learn more about the Clifton Hampden bypass.